There are a lot of things that cause concrete to crack. I will list a few below if you want to check them out. I try to analyze things and get to the root of the problem to determine the best plan of action. In this instance there are three reasons to consider removing concrete structural, cosmetic and no longer serves a purpose.

•                     If you no longer need concrete and its in an area that you want to repurpose the best thing to do is have it recycled. If you call a concrete demolition contractor and they want to charge you to haul it to the dump you should inform them that there are places that will recycle it. I know Birmingham Concrete Removal in central Alabama recycles all of their material. 
•                     Cracked concrete especially when it is separated gives the appearance that things are unkept and at the least looks like there may be underlying issues. If these things come to your mind when your looking at cracked concrete you would be right. Cracked concrete will lead to bigger issues and ultimately more costly repairs later. If you only have a section of concrete that is cracked up it could be from a tree root. It would be advantageous for you to cut out only the area effected. Sometimes the finish would be so drastically different that you would need to replace the entire thing to ensure consistency.    
•                     From time to time settling occurs under the concrete. This is a major problem and should be addressed immediately. You can tell if you take a coat hanger or a small stick and push it through the crack and feel how far down the base is from the concrete. Also, if you have an elevated deck that is cracking it should be evaluated by a professional immediately. 

                           Understanding why your concrete or asphalt is cracking is the first step in making your decision of weather or not you should replace it or repair it. My next question would be how can you repair concrete? There are many methods of repairing concrete. The best thing you can do when attempting to repair concrete is make sure no water is getting underneath it. nine times out of 10 the reason for cracking is water and nine times out of 10 the way to keep it from getting worse is to keep water from getting underneath it. The best way to do that is to take a diamond tipped saw blade and cut a groove through the crack. When your done blow out the saw dust and fill it with a self leveling sealant available at any Home Depot or Lowes where the concrete bags area located. There are several other ways to do it yourself but the best way would be to cut out the area that is cracked and replace it. The only reason you would not want to replace it is if its just cosmetic and you can live with the looks. As long as the situation is not getting worst it will be just fine to wait it out.  
                      


 Concrete is rated in pounds per square inch. Lets say you have  a driveway that has a strength rating of 4000 psi and a loaded dump truck weighing about 90,000 pounds drives through it.  This would mean each tire is caring roughly 22,000 lbs.  This is enough weight in one place to crack the concrete.

1. Another reason could be the mixture from the concrete company is wrong. This is rare and doesn't normally happen but occasionally it does. There are ratios that are to be maintained and from time to time they are not followed. This will reduce the pounds per square inch strength. 
2. The most common reason is pouring concrete in an area that the base was not prepared properly before pouring the cement. 
3. When an installer is pouring cement especially when its hot outside the mixture is accelerated and it makes it difficult to work. When this happens the easiest thing to do is add water to the mix. This totally changed the chemical reaction and diminishes the structural integrity.  If the contractor wants the mud delivered on a six inch slump the best thing to do is tell the despatcher and have them bring the proper mixture when they mix it at the plant. Changing the mix onsite always changes the strength. This can lead to cracking.

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553 Camellia Rd, Birmingham, AL 35215
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     3. Pool removal cost:   In most cases the cost will start at $3000.00. This price usually includes bringing in dirt to fill in the hole but does not include landscaping or sod replacement. ​

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 Experts maintain their position that demons come in at midnight and put them there. Not really its actually a little more complicated than that.  ​Water is actually the ingredient in the mix that causes potholes. It does not matter if you are dealing with concrete or asphalt water is at the bottom of every pothole. There are several ways cracks manifest.
            1. Sunlight brakes down the tar in the asphalt over time and it gets brittle. Small cracks form that may be hard to see at first. Rain water seeps through and flows to the path of least resistance. It depending on the soil it will collect there mixing with the soil causing the sub base to be weakened. When it is driven on over and over the gravel base begins to compact into the soil causing a depression. The more this happens the faster it will happen. 
            2. Poor drainage, when a road or driveway is built you will often see a curb or ditch on either side. This it to ensure the road sub base stays dry. When pipes back up or the road settles sometimes the base is exposed to flooding even when you don't see water on top of the pavement. This is more common in private roads and driveways because typically engineers are not involved on small projects like this. Over time the same thing happens as in example 1. The sub base is compromised and begins to compact under the pavement. Gravity and downward pressure from vehicles cause the pavement to settle. This is where potholes are formed. 
              3. Another way is when the base of the concrete or asphalt driveway was not compacted properly during construction or possibly organic material was burred and decayed leaving a depression. The gravel base and pavement will follow shortly leaving a pot hole. 
              There are many things you can do to limit your exposure to potholes in you driveway or road. 
              1. Hire a civil engineer to oversee your project.
              2. Have proctors performed on the soil compaction prior to the pavement being installed. 
              3. Install steel reinforcement in your concrete.
             If there were a fool proof plan to avoiding this you would never see them. If you happen to have on in your parking lot or road the best thing to do is to remove the base beneath, pack new dense grade base, and install new paving. You will need to hire someone to saw the concrete or asphalt. Dont use the broken up concrete or asphalt in the bottom of your hole. Make sure you use the proper materials to fix your pothole. Also check with a few local landscape companies to see if you have a drainage problem. If you hire Birmingham Concrete Removal you will be sure to have all of the bases covered to ensuring you get the best outcome.
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